Phillies blow late lead in loss to Pirates

BRADENTON, Fla. – The Phillies hit three homers but it wasn't enough today against the Pirates in McKechnie Field.

The Pirates scored three runs in the eighth to propel them to a 5-3 victory before a sellout crowd of 8,566.

The Phillies homers were all solo blasts, with two coming in the first inning. Shortstop Jimmy Rollins and first baseman Ryan Howard hit the first inning homers.

Third baseman Cody Asche led off the fifth with the Phillies final homer for the team's final run.

The Phillies led 3-2 going to the eighth but Pirates DH Travis Ishikawa led off the inning with a homer to right to tie the game. The Pirates then added runs on a walk and three singles to take the lead.

Phillies starter A.J. Burnett pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on seven hits and six walks. He left the game in sixth with the bases loaded, the Phillies leading 3-2 and one out. Reliever Jake Diekman came into the game and struck out Chris Dickerson and Russell Martin to preserve the lead.

Brad Lincoln replaced Diekman in the seventh and struck out the side. He then surrendered the Ishikawa homer in the eighth and followed that by walking Gift Ngoepe and allowing a single to Jaff Decker, who both scored.

Shawn Camp replaced Lincoln after the Decker single but the runs were charged to Lincoln.

Phillies leadoff hitter Ben Revere was 2-for-4 with a walk.

The Phillies are now 6-15-3, the worst record in spring training.